From Britten’s enchanted dreamscape, the Festival moves to the realm of overwhelming passion with a new production of Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. The premiere of this masterpiece - described by the Superintendent as a true “monument of European culture” - is scheduled for 20 May at 7 p.m., with further performances on 23 May at 3.30 p.m., 26 May at 7 p.m., and 29 May at 3.30 p.m On the podium is Alexander Soddy, winner of the 2025 Abbiati Prize for Best Conductor for his acclaimed direction of Macbeth at the Maggio in October 2025. The production is directed by Keith Warner. The all-star cast brings together some of today’s foremost Wagnerian singers, each with extensive experience in this repertoire, including Simon O’Neill, Anja Kampe, Okka von der Damerau, and Iain Paterson.

New staging

Illustration © Gianluigi Toccafondo